challenges to referendum

No abortion legislation until court challenges concluded
Three court cases have delayed introduction of law to regulate pregnancy termination

Sun, Aug 12, 2018
Sarah Bardon Political Reporter

The Government will not introduce any legislation to implement the outcome of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment until court challenges to the result have concluded.

Reports emerged this weekend that Minister for Health Simon Harris was considering introducing an interim law to assist women who have received a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality and to decriminalise women who procure an abortion.

State entitled to costs in abortion referendum legal challenge
Homemaker Joanna Jordan to appeal refusal to allow challenge to referendum result

Tue, Jul 24, 2018
Mary Carolan

The State and Referendum Commission are entitled to their legal costs, estimated at more than €200,000, of successfully opposing two separate bids to challenge the abortion referendum result, the president of the High Court has ruled.

One of the two, Joanna Jordan, said she intends to appeal the refusal to let her bring a petition challenging the result. In that context, a stay applies until at least Friday preventing the referendum result being formally certified

Government ministers do not have to meet standards of “legal accuracy” when campaigning in referendums and only an extreme situation might entitle the courts to intervene in their campaigning, the State has told the High Court.

Introduction of legislation on abortion not possible before summer break
No mention of abortion Bill in list of 19 Bills Government is seeking to progress in next fortnight

June 27, 2018
Pat Leahy

The Government has conceded it will not now be possible to introduce legislation on abortion before the summer break, significantly extending the time before the legislation is on the statute books.

In a document circulated to members of the Dáil Business Committee, the Government has listed a large number of Bills it intends to bring to the House before the summer recess begins in mid-July. However, there is no mention of the abortion Bill in the list of 19 Bills that the Government is seeking progress on in the next fortnight.

Man makes claim of 'electoral fraud' in High Court case against abortion referendum result

Tuesday, June 26, 2018
By Ann O'Loughlin

A man seeking leave to challenge the result of the abortion referendum has claimed the Taoiseach and Minister for Health had made “misleading” statements which “duped” some people into voting Yes and “materially affected” the outcome.

Charles Byrne claims Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris were not permitted under the Constitution to advocate for a Yes vote and made statements which impermissibly interfered with the conduct of the referendum.

Man challenging abortion referendum result to seek electoral registers in High Court
Monday, June 18, 2018

By Ann O'Loughlin

A man seeking leave to challenge the result of last month’s abortion referendum will formally apply this week for court orders requiring the State to provide him with the original and supplemental electoral registers of voters, including the dates of birth of voters.

Charles Byrne, of College Rise, Drogheda, Co Louth, also wants marked registers of all those who voted on May 25 so the material can be analysed by a public administration expert, his counsel Kenneth Fogarty SC said

No abortion legislation until all court challenges have ended
Minister for Health plans to publish legislation in early July regardless of court actions

June 14, 2018
Sarah Bardon

The Government cannot introduce legislation to allow for abortion services until all court challenges to the result of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment are concluded, The Irish Times has learned.

The referendum, which paved the way for liberalising the State’s strict abortion laws, was passed by a near two-to-one majority last month, but there have been a number of court challenges to the result.